Detachable ice and snow melting panels for traffic bearing surfaces



Nov. l0, 1959 F. w. JAMlsoN 2,912,555

DETACHABLE ICE AND sNow MELTING PANEr-.s FOR TRAFFIC BEARING suRFAcEs Filed March 10, 1958 Fie. 4.

o n V a o 3 s :Iii s '1:1 9 4.5:: 9 4. A`1A u u. i I I f '[l I INVENTOR. Fe. Fneoakx W. Jnmlson,

HTTURNE Y' c p 2,912,553 nETCHABLE ICE AND SNow MELTiNG PANIS FOR TRAFFIC BEARING SURFACES Frederick W. Jamison, Coral Gables, Fla.

Application March 10, 1958, Serial No. 720,101

1 Claim. (Cl. 2119-19) ywith the coil laced through the panel at the opposite ends so that the major length of the coil overlies the upper surface of the panel and with the assembled panel being embedded in a suitable molded body or the like with its heating surface uppermost and whereby the bottorny of the panel serves to insulate the finished unit from the ground or other surface to concentrate the heat to the upper surface of the unit for preventing the formation of ice or the like thereon.

The invention further contemplates the formation of electrically heated units that may be placed in end to end relation along a walkway and anchored against displacement and with the several units being connected to a common source of electrical energy. The units readily adapt themselves to various dimensions, such as stair treads or the like. Y

Novel features of construction and operation of the device Will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters l of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a combinedheater and insulating unit embodied in the device,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a complete element as molded into a plastic composition,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse section, taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, but illustrating a modified form of the device,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating a plurality of completed elements as disposed in a walk or driveway forming position, and

Figure 7 is an edge view of a modified form of the device wherein the elements have interlocking engagement at their abutting ends.

Referring. specifically to the drawings, the numeralV 5 designates a sheet of relatively stiff waterproof insulating board, formed of a composition preferably including asbestos. rThe board 5 will be formed in varying lengths and widths, but generally rectangular. Laced into the board, as through spaced apart apertures at each end, as at 6, is a continuous length of insulated wire 7 and with the several iiights of the wire overlying the upper surface of the board in substantially equidistantly 2,912,5*H5 Patented Nov. 10, 1959 2 spaced parallel relation so that the major heat from the wires will be upwardly directed. The terminal ends of the wire 8 are extended laterally from the board at one end for subsequent connection to a source of electrical energy. It is contemplated that the board will be formed in varying dimensions, such for instance, as a size corresponding in width to the conventional concrete ribbons for driveways leading to a garage and of a length that is convenient to handle as to weight. yOne size that has been found very desirable, measures 18 x 36 inches and functions successfully for both driveways and walks. Other sizes are also contemplated for use upon the treads of exterior steps.

The use of the device so far described is as follows:

In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the board and its assembled wires are molded into a body of plasticmaterial, such as concrete and, this is accomplished by providing a suitable mold having a proper depth. A layer of concrete or cement is placed into the bottom of the mold and then the unit S is placed thereover, fwith the lead ends 8 of the wires projecting outwardly. The unit 5 is then covered with the concrete to the top of the mold and left to harden, after which it is removed and a suitable indicating mark placed thereon to denote the top. This is particularly important, since it is essential that the wire 7 be uppermost as a means to direct heat to the surface to be protected from ice or snow. The slab 9 thus formed may be apertured at each end, as at 10, to furnish a means for anchoring the slab to the driveway or walkway against shifting, such for instance by toggle bolts or screws, not shown. After the forming of the slab 9, the wire leads 8 may be provided with any suitable electrical plug-in connector, whereby the device may be connected to the source of electrical energy. The slabs are then placed upon the driveway ribbons or walkway in end to end relation, such as illustrated in Figure 6 and then anchored in position into the concrete forming the driveway or walkway. A common electrical conductor, illustrated diagrammatically at 11 in Figure 6 is then trained along the edges of the several slabs for the reception of the several connectors carried by the slabs. The units absorb relatively little electricity and a slab having the dimensions above noted absorb about 200 watts. Thus, several slabs can be employed without danger of too great a load upon the electrical system.

The modified form of the device illustrated in Figure 5, contemplates a metallic casing for the unit 5. In this form, a lower cast or rolled sheet of aluminum 12 constitutes the bottom, upon which the unit 5 rests, while a similar sheet 13 overlies the unit and with the sheets extended and united by iiller strips 14 and with the sheets and the strips 14 being welded together to form an airtight and waterproof housing. The upper surface of the sheet 13 and the upper surface of the slab may be serrated or roughened to prevent slipping.

lt will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very desirable means has been employed to prevent the formation of ice or the accumulation of snow upc-n walkways or driveways. The device is simple in construction, economically formed and, when installed in driveways, is

fully capable of supporting the weight of a vehicle. After installation, it only requires that electricity be conducted` to the several members when the weather is indicative of-v freezing or possibly snow. While the heating elements. 7 have been indicated as conventional heater wires, it will be apparent that other heating elements may be ernployed, such as the conventional Calrod units cornmonly employed in cooking elements. -Also, while the slabs have been indicated as being perforated at their opposite ends for the passage of anchoring bolts, it will also be apparent, that any desirable form of clips may be employed between the units to maintain them in their when the device is molded as a plastic slab, as shown in Figures 2-4, the cement may be colored or otherwise decorated in accordance with the surrounding grass r other lawn displays.

As shown in Figure 7, the elements 9 have been :chamtered or cut away at their opposite ends, as at 15, to form tongues 16, having a thickness substantially half the thickness of the element and whereby the elements may be placed in end to end interlocking engagement. Une element or an end element may be formed with a plane end, as illustrated. Each of the elements shown in Figure 7 are provided with the apertures 10, and with the apertures being disposed away-from the chamfer or in other words, through the thickest part of the element and through the medium of which only a single pair of anchoring bolts or pins may be driven downwardly vthrough each unit to anchor it in position and with the tongues 16 being overlapping between adjacent units to prevent their displacement and to substantially maintain the units level with respect to each other. The units as shown in Figure 7 may be formed in various sizes, to constitute walkways or driveways and may be arranged in multiple rows in staggered relation transversely so that one tongue 16 will overlie the adjacent tongues of two units in the next adiacent row, thus forming a very desirable substantiaily rigid covering to constitute a patio or the like. Also, the interlocking engagement of the tongue 16 prevents horizontal disalignment of the units, such as might be possible in frost conditions beneath the units and also prevents abrupt edges of one `unit projecting above other units that might constitute a hazard. It is also contemplated that the units wilt be molded or otherwise formed in various color combinations, thus lending a very ornamental appearance to eitherl walkways or patios, yet .embodying the same features of the previously described formsV of the invention. The device as in Figure 7 may constitute the sole means of forming theV walkways or driveways, since they can be laid directly upon the ground and anchored in interlocked position by pins that extend through the preformed apertures.

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fait within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as `ne and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

:assembled abutting relation. It is also contemplated that A heated surface covering device for multiple use in overlying and in end to end relation to form walkways, driveways, roadways or the like, comprising a flat molded rectangular plastic body having parallel upper andlower faces, a non-plastic heater element molded into the body to extend for the major Width and lengththereof, the heater element comprising a rectangular sheet of stiff and relatively thick insulating board, the board at its opposite ends being provided with spaced apart perforations, a.

plurality of strands of an electrical conductor` that are connectedto the sheet and that extend longitudinally of the sheet and with the strands overlying the upper surface of the sheet in spaced apart parallel relation and whereby the major heat from the strands is directed toward the surface of the plastic body, the strands being threaded through the apertures at the opposite ends of Vthe sheet, the said sheet insulating the lower surface of the body against the escape of heat downwardly from the conductors, the terminal ends of the conductors being extended through one marginal edge of the plastic body adjacent one end for connection to a sourceof electrical energy, the said body portion at its opposite ends being transversely reduced in thickness to form flat tongues for the full transverse width of the slabs and whereby the tongues have overlapping engagement with the tongues of adjacent bodies, each of the bodies inwardly from: their reduced ends being vertically apertured for the' passage of anchoring pins that are driven downwardly linto an underlying surface to prevent shifting of the" bodies with respect to each other and with respectA to an underlying surface, all of the slabs and their projecting conductors being energized and heated from a common.,

source of electrical energy.

References Cited in the le of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS 

